Downtown Ocala

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 11:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 11:06 p.m.

A friend once told me that, when growing up, he and his buddies always complained there was nothing to do in their hometown.

They were talking about Philadelphia.

Every kid thinks he’s growing up in the most boring place on Earth. Then the kid grows up and learns better.

But we never stop wishing for more, do we?

If only Ocala were more like Austin, Texas. If only Austin were more like Miami. If only Miami were like New York City. If only New York were like London. If only London were like Paris...

Me? I grow where I’m planted. I have lived and worked in towns that make “Slow-cala” look like Rio.

It never mattered to me. There was always work to do. There were always people who needed my help and people willing to help me. There was always a church to attend. There was always a cable TV provider, a pizza place and a golf course.

If I needed anything else, I could drive down the highway and find it.

Still, there is nothing wrong with a civic-minded effort to improve where we live. You can appreciate what you have while still looking for more.

I don’t know if his, or anyone’s, advice on this subject is worth $30,000. Then again, his work might be like modern art and free verse: It looks easy to do if you don’t really know how to do it.

I offer the following consultation for $30,000, with a $30,000 discount applied.

Check with downtown’s existing stars — La Cuisine, Mark’s Prime, Starbucks, Gause & Son and Greiner’s top my list, though there are other contenders — and make sure they have what they need.

Can the city do anything to help? If so, then do it. Shore up the base.

Second, proceed with plans for a parking garage. I can always find a spot, but people like the guarantee of easy parking.

In a recent, unscientific poll on ocala.com, a plurality — 35 percent — of respondents said a parking garage was what downtown needed most.

Only 4.5 percent of those poll respondents said downtown needs a hotel. There were more votes for every other choice: condos, more live music venues, more upscale eateries, more shops, more chain restaurants and stores.

I disagree. A boutique hotel or even a mini version of a chain would be a game-changing magnet for downtown.

Hotels serve as ideal anchors or co-anchors. They bring people downtown who then will shop and eat and spend money.

For us locals, a hotel is one of those dependable, solid businesses that give downtown a mature and settled feel.

The private sector would need to make this happen, of course, and a group called Ocala Development has a plan — one that includes a lot of government assistance — in mind.

<p>A friend once told me that, when growing up, he and his buddies always complained there was nothing to do in their hometown.</p><p>They were talking about Philadelphia.</p><p>Every kid thinks he's growing up in the most boring place on Earth. Then the kid grows up and learns better.</p><p>But we never stop wishing for more, do we?</p><p>If only Ocala were more like Austin, Texas. If only Austin were more like Miami. If only Miami were like New York City. If only New York were like London. If only London were like Paris...</p><p>Me? I grow where I'm planted. I have lived and worked in towns that make “Slow-cala” look like Rio.</p><p>It never mattered to me. There was always work to do. There were always people who needed my help and people willing to help me. There was always a church to attend. There was always a cable TV provider, a pizza place and a golf course.</p><p>If I needed anything else, I could drive down the highway and find it.</p><p>Still, there is nothing wrong with a civic-minded effort to improve where we live. You can appreciate what you have while still looking for more.</p><p>Hence the city's decision to hire a $30,000 Harvard consultant for advice on downtown Ocala's retail profile.</p><p>I don't know if his, or anyone's, advice on this subject is worth $30,000. Then again, his work might be like modern art and free verse: It looks easy to do if you don't really know how to do it.</p><p>I offer the following consultation for $30,000, with a $30,000 discount applied.</p><p>Check with downtown's existing stars — La Cuisine, Mark's Prime, Starbucks, Gause & Son and Greiner's top my list, though there are other contenders — and make sure they have what they need.</p><p>Can the city do anything to help? If so, then do it. Shore up the base.</p><p>Second, proceed with plans for a parking garage. I can always find a spot, but people like the guarantee of easy parking.</p><p>In a recent, unscientific poll on ocala.com, a plurality — 35 percent — of respondents said a parking garage was what downtown needed most.</p><p>Only 4.5 percent of those poll respondents said downtown needs a hotel. There were more votes for every other choice: condos, more live music venues, more upscale eateries, more shops, more chain restaurants and stores.</p><p>I disagree. A boutique hotel or even a mini version of a chain would be a game-changing magnet for downtown.</p><p>Hotels serve as ideal anchors or co-anchors. They bring people downtown who then will shop and eat and spend money.</p><p>For us locals, a hotel is one of those dependable, solid businesses that give downtown a mature and settled feel.</p><p>The private sector would need to make this happen, of course, and a group called Ocala Development has a plan — one that includes a lot of government assistance — in mind.</p><p>I'm listening.</p>